The amazing Chipolopolos pull off the impossible as Gervinho misses his PK. The art of war,
Sunzu Stophira made no mistake with his chance as Zambia win their first ACN.
A fairy tale end for a country who lost so much 19 years ago in one of sport's heart breaking
tragedies minutes away from Libreville, the venue for today's finals.
Filthy lucre: The ruble, the new green
Fabio Capello is reportedly in Moscow after his skiing holiday in Switzerland. The big drop is
he's meeting with Anzhi Makhachkala officials who are looking for a replacement for their coach
Yuri Krasnozhan.
The Russian coach is an acolyte of Alan Soziyev, the former director general of the club, who
departed the club after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.
Full credit to Osasuna who played like they had nothing to fear against their vaunted
opposition. Pep Guardiola resting Xavi, Iniesta, and Fabregas on the bench for the Bayer Leverkusen
CL first leg sent in Thiago Alcantara, Pedro, and Sergi Roberto. The latter breaking into the first
squad, all of four games old, completed the rejiggered midfield.
szólj hozzá: Inter - Novara 0-1 Caracciolo
Novara, at the very bottom of the Serie won yet again in a clean sweep of Inter with Andre
Caracciolo scoring a flamboyant winner. Massimo Moratti dismissed Gian Piero Gasperini after
Inter's 1-3 flame out against Novara in their first encounter.
S1-2A by fasthighlights
Sunderland has always been a tough side to crack and yesterday was no different on a horrible
pitch at the Stadium of Blight. The first half was marked by the usual spectacle of Arsenal bossing
the ball with little to show. Sunderland known for its strong defending did just that but their
counterattacking was laboured.
This should prove beyond a shadow Luis Suarez meant what he said to Patrice Evra. Every racist
word. This does not mean he is a paid member of the KKK. He's just a prick with a very low
threshold for frustration. Many fans in some blind reflexive way believed Suarez was the victim of
a smear job and their misguided support probably emboldened him today.
Legend. Arsenal true blue. Competitor. Finisher extraordinaire.
You couldn't write a better script for Thierry Henry to end his England return. An added time
goal for the winner against Sunderland. A bookend to the bookend he installed with his instant
winner against Leeds. Both Wenger's subs made massive contributions to the victory as Aaron Ramsey
scored the equalizer and Andrey Arshavin sent in a pinpoint cross to Henry lurking in front of goal
to elevate his leg and guide the ball past Simon Mignolet.
szólj hozzá: Man Utd v Liverpool 2:1 GOALS
The scoreline does not reflect how good Man Utd were or the dire Liverpool performance
especially in the second half. That was on the pitch as the rest of the world tuned into the Luis
Suarez vs Patrice Evra telenovela.
The Manchester side came to play football while the Reds came to do, well, whatever Luis Suarez
wanted to do.
Earlier this week, I realized I hadn't done a Hat Trick and Question of the Day since before the
MLS SuperDraft. Yikes. There have been very good reasons for this though: Between covering the
draft in Kansas City, looking at the St. Louis soccer landscape and interviewing both current and
former members of the Fire organization, it's been a very good time to write for Hot Time in Old
Town.
A pearce-ing scream: The U21 coach is taking over for the Holland friendly
The players are all coming out of the woodwork. After keeping miserably silent and not offering
an ounce of support for their former manager. Man, those must have been the toughest five years of
their lives? But they're now tweeting their approval of Harry Redknapp as favourite to lead the
Three Lions.
The amazing Chipolopolos scored the winning goal in the 77th minute as substitute Emmanuel
Mayuka found space and on the turn curled a right footed shot past Adam Kwarsey in goal. It was
probably the second chance for the Zambians and very much against the run of play.
The Black Stars should have gone ahead early as Asamoah Gyan missed out on a golden chance when
his penalty was stopped by Kennedy Mweene (bringing back painful memories of his World Cup PK miss
against Uruguay).
The Anfield tabby who made an appearance in the Liverpool vs Spurs match has become a major
sensation like Susan Boyle, out of nowhere. Probably the most exciting event in that match other
than Luis Suarez's kick to Scotty Parker's stomach that sent the Spurs midfielder to the ground
grovelling in pain.
Cesc Fabregas and Xavi guide Barcelona to their 12th Copa Del Rey final. Leo Messi had a hand in
both goals. Gol TV's inimitable Ray Hudson, "Messi, like a gazelle through the
cheetahs" couldn't have said it better. They meet Athletic Bilbao in the final most likely on
25th May.
Harry Redknapp, David Bernstein, and Fabio Capello in Les Liaisons Dangereuses
A day ago, Harry Redknapp was in the dock on tax evasion charges. If proven guilty, it would end
his chances to be England manager, a post that he has long coveted. Worse, as a convicted felon,
the punishment could mean jail time and a leave of absence from football for a long, long time.
The top goal scorer in Wisconsin prep boys soccer history will continue his college career in
the state.
James Weber (Hartford) is transferring from Xavier to UW-Green Bay, the school announced
Tuesday.
Weber scored three goals in 12 appearances (two starts) for the Musketeers (12-5-4) as a
freshman last fall.
Mirandes, the giant killing third division Liga club bowed out beaten by Athletic Bilbao, 6-2,
in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey (8-3 aggregate). Fernando Llorente showed why he's on the
wishlist of some of the world's biggest clubs by scoring a brace. Athletic also got goals from Iker
Muniain, Markel Susaeta and defender Jon Aurtenetxe.
The world's most over rated striker receives a three match ban for slapping Napoli's Salvatore
Aronica. To be fair Aronica also indulged in some extra-curricular activities against Antonio
Nocerino but Ibra's was a reputation call. He will miss crucial matches against Udinese and
Juventus.
Fabio Capello showing what he thinks of the FA's decision to nix Terry's captaincy
The FA and Fabio Capello are increasingly at odds with each other over John Terry's captaincy.
The Italian was vocal in his support of the Chelsea defender using the cover of the deferred legal
case as a presumption of innocence till proven guilty.
szólj hozzá: Liverpool Tottenham HIGHLIGHTS
Who let the cat out? A tabby provided the most excitement in the Liverpool vs Spurs match, a
cagey affair. Luis Suarez came on in the 66th minute after his nine match ban and promptly plonked
Scott Parker on the abdomen with a scything foot, an accident more than anything else, but with
Suarez the line is finely drawn.
Co-hosts Gabon looked like it was going to be headed to their best showing in any ACN when Eric
Mouloungui shot them into the lead in the 55th minute. But Mali had other ideas as Cheick Diabate
equalized in the 84th minute. At the end of extra time, with the two teams deadlocked, the fate of
the match was decided on PK shootout.
Captain John Mensah puts Ghana ahead through his third international goal. Saber Khelifa
equalized after beating Samuel Inkoom to a lofted ball. The match headed to extra time and in the
110th minute, Abedi Pele's son, Andre Ayew scored the winner after Tunisia's goalie, Aymen
Mathlouthi coughed up Inkoom's cross right into his path.
Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org
The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as
the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National
Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United
States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association,
the first soccer governing body in America.
Inter's wheels are coming off. After such a strong push to within sniffing distance of Milan and
Juve, they have lost to lowly Lecce, drew Palermo and yesterday, Roma took the lumber to them. Juan
gets the Giallorossi on the board, Fabio Borini's lovely brace follows, and the Bojan Krkic
finishes emphatically to give Roma a thumping 4-0 victory.
szólj hozzá: Chelsea v Man Utd 3:3 MOTD
This was one of the most gripping matches in the season. United improved immeasurably when Paul
Scholes was introduced in the 64th minute, one of the key moments of the match. On the other hand,
Andre Villas- Boas went negative when he took Daniel Sturridge off for Oriol Romeu in the 71st
minute playing it safe protecting a 3-2 lead.
Joey Barton's reaction to the FA's handling of the John Terry racial abuse case
A series of Tweets from Joey Barton on the John Terry racial abuse saga has England's Attorney
General breathing hard down his neck. Barton's tweets summed up:
"This John Terry saga, has turned into one of the most hideously managed spectacles I have
ever known.
Demba Cisse the most expensive player in the January transfer and the other half of the
Senegalese strike force alongside Demba Ba, provided an instant impact as he scored a majestic goal
on his debut. Majestic.
Ba and Cisse were away on ACN duty and how they were missed, especially Ba, who gave Newcastle
the lead in the 30th minute for his 16th Premiership goal.
Zambia cruised past Sudan, 3-0 to the semi-finals of the ACN, the first time since 1996. Sudan
made things difficult for themselves after Ali Saif Eldin was sent off for his second violation
when he brought down Rainford Kalaba in the 63rd minute. By that time the Chipolopolos (The Copper
Miners) were already a goal up from Sunzu Stoppila.
Didier Drogba could not be denied as he made up for a missed penalty by pouring in a brace.
Ivory Coast added another through Yaya Toure as they send Equatorial Guinea, the co-hosts, out of
the ACN. The Taranga Lions are through to the semi-finals.
Drogba will be missing today's huge showdown with Man Utd, and in his absence, Chelsea is hoping
that misfiring Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, take up the goalscoring slack.
szólj hozzá: Arsenal Blackburn 7:1 HIGHLIGH
In which RVP scores a sublime hat trick. In which the Ox is unleashed. In which Song continues
to find his passing groove. In which Thierry Henry scores his first Premiership goal on his return.
In which Theo Walcott made the right choices. In which Frances Coquelin showed why the flanks are
so important.
Anton, or is that your name? Now, touch my skin. Worship it.
One should ask the FA why they did such a thorough job investigating Luis Suarez's racial abuse
of Patrice Evra and then drop the ball on John Terry doing the same against Anton Ferdinand? Suarez
gets an eight match ban, while Terry gets rewarded with a deferment of his trial till after the
2012 Euro is over and retains his captaincy of the Three Lions to boot.
Mohamed Abou-treika whose accomplishments as a humanitarian are as luminous as his
accomplishments on the soccer pitch announced his retirement from his beloved Al Ahly club. He was
joined by fellow icons Emad Moteab and Mohamed Barakat, all stalwarts of the club as they made
their announcement on Ahly TV.
Egyptian soccer is in chaos, mirroring what that country is going through. The Egyptian prime
minister dissolved the Egyptian Football Federation, Port Said's governor and police chief were
sacked, and the Muslim Brotherhood launched a scathing attack on the Interior ministry, deeming it
responsible for the violent Port Said clashes that left 74 dead and scores injured.
Valencia served a reminder of its proud heritage as a football team holding Barca and then
denied Leo Messi a PK goal in the Copa Del Rey semi-finals first leg.
Jonas gave the home side the lead at the Mestalla but Carles Puyol who seems to have made a
career scoring very important headers equalized for the Blaugrana.
At least 74 soccer fans died as deadly riots broke out in Port Said after a soccer match between
Al Masry and visiting Al Ahly. Fans from Al Masry invaded the pitch after their team beat Al Ahly,
3-1 and clashed with their rivals. Most of the deaths were attributed to the ensuing stampede as
supporters desperately tried to make for the exits.
bolton 0-0 arsenal by Futbol2101
What does it take for any other player other than RVP to score goals? It is now official, he's
not pretending any more - Theo Walcott has a mind made of mush in front of goal. Always. Aaron
Ramsey is another. The Ox too for all his brightness was presented with a clear chance.
Arsenal can confirm that Jack Wilshere has suffered a small stress fracture to the right foot
which is in a different location to his original injury. He will be reassessed in two weeks by
Arsenal's medical team. If all goes well (keeping fingers crossed), Wilshere might be back in time
for Arsenal's Ides of March schedule.
Gunners, waiting for Götze? No longer, Thomas Eisfeld, 19 years old, who's supposed to be even
more Götze than Mario Götze and comes from the same club arrives at the Emirates for a princely
sum of £420,000. Which means dear Gunners, if you're waiting for the real thing, you're doing it
at your own hazard.
szólj hozzá: Everton v Man City 1:0 MOTD
Darron Gibson, did his former club Man Utd a huge favour by striking the one lethal blow last
evening. Landon Donovan continuing his great assist work. City were undone before one could say
Denis Stracqualursi.
Goodison Park is not exactly happy hunting grounds for City, winning only two of their last 15
encounters in that venue.
There was some fond hope that the man handcuffed to the goalpost was making a grandiose
statement about the unholy sums of money destroying football (read City). Or maybe he had tried
handcuffing himself to a badger the previous evening with unsatisfying results and wanted something
different.
A few months ago, everything was going swimmingly for City. All they seemingly had to do was to
show up for win after lopsided win. But then there was a gradual slide in theor fortunes. At the
end of January their season is but a litany of thwarted ambitions. Out of the Champions League in
December and by last week, the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, their accelerated program to win the
Premiership title seems to have hit a wall and in danger of being snatched by those other pesky
Mancunians and the upstart Spurs.